By Nworisa Michael
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sharply criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government over Nigeria’s silence following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States, describing it as a dangerous signal of declining global relevance and moral authority.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, the opposition party said Nigeria’s failure to react to such a major international development exposes a troubling lack of confidence and leadership on the world stage.
The ADC warned that the arrest and impending trial of Maduro by U.S. authorities should serve as a clear lesson to governments with questionable democratic credentials, stressing that the international community is becoming increasingly intolerant of illegitimacy, electoral fraud, and authoritarian governance.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, noted that while global leaders and governments swiftly reacted to the dramatic development, Nigeria Africa’s most populous nation chose silence.
According to the ADC, this silence is not accidental.
“The continued silence of the APC-led Tinubu administration is a national embarrassment and a reflection of deep insecurity at the highest level of government,” the party said.
On Saturday, U.S. forces, acting under the authorization of President Donald Trump, arrested Maduro and his wife in a military operation. The couple were reportedly airlifted to New York to face charges related to drug trafficking and arms offenses.
Reacting to the incident, the ADC accused President Tinubu of avoiding a response out of fear, suggesting that the silence stems from concerns about Nigeria’s own democratic legitimacy.
“The arrest of Maduro sends a loud warning to leaders who emerged from flawed electoral processes. The Tinubu administration’s silence suggests an awareness of its own vulnerabilities,” the statement added.
While acknowledging the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference as enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the ADC argued that such principles must not be used as cover for repression, tyranny, or the systematic denial of citizens’ democratic rights.
The party recalled that Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election was widely condemned by governments across Latin America, the European Union, and international democratic institutions, citing allegations of electoral fraud, repression, and the exclusion of opposition candidates.
According to the ADC, the aftermath of the disputed election triggered mass migration and regional instability consequences the international community can no longer ignore.
“The public celebrations that followed Maduro’s arrest reveal a government that had completely lost the confidence of its own people,” the party said.
The ADC further warned that Nigeria’s continued silence on critical global issues erodes its credibility and weakens its ability to speak with authority on democracy, accountability, and human rights.
“At a time when the world is redefining the balance between sovereignty and accountability, Nigeria has gone missing,” the party stated.
It concluded by describing the events in Venezuela as a global warning to dictators and election manipulators everywhere.
“Sovereignty must derive from the will of the people, not from the survival instincts of those in power. Democracy must deliver freedom, fairness, and dignity anything less is unacceptable,” the statement said.